Bernard KOUCHNER

France

Biography of Bernard KOUCHNER

Born in 1939 in France

Education Medical Doctor – Gastro Enterologist

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of France from 2007 till 2011

Bernard Kouchner started his career practicing medicine as a gastro-enterologist at Hopital Cochin, Paris. Since then, he devoted his life to serve Humanitarian causes and Public health challenges through his extensive work in International organizations and Governments

Founder and President of “MSF” Médecins sans Frontières and of Medecins du Monde –MDM- , two of the largest global Humanitarian NGOs active until now in several regions of the world.

He became a minister in several French governments, in charge of public health and humanitarian affairs (1988-2002).

As French minister of Health in early 2000’s : Bernard Kouchner contributed to raise the Hepatitis C as National public health priority and put in place the first National strategic plan of fight against HCV. The French plan on HCV is recognized by several stakeholders as the best HCV national plan among all European countries.

In 1999, he was appointed by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan as his Special Representative for Kosovo.

Previously, he was a member of the European Parliament

He was professor at the Harvard School of Public Health and at the CNAM in Paris (Chairman of Health and Development).

He has published 12 books (last in October 2014 : « Mémoires croisées, with Adam Michnik ») and many essays on international and national politics as well as on public health and development issues.

He has been awarded several international distinctions on Human Rights ( e.g : European prize of Human rights ) , and Medecine, and became KCBE (Knight Commander of the British Empire) …and many other awards

The latest award is ( expected to be received in 28th Oct in New York) the Prix Galien – Pro Bono Humanum award- (The Pro Bono Humanum Award recognizes exemplary and innovative efforts in improving the human condition)

Bernard Kouchner & Médecins Sans Frontières – MSF- received the Peace Nobel Prize in 1999.